The global automotive industry concluded 2025 with a staggering milestone as vehicle recalls reached an all-time high.
Ford Motor Company emerged as the focal point, setting astonishing records in both scale and frequency of recalls, far surpassing its competitors and even its own historical precedents.
By the end of December 2025, Ford and its luxury brand, Lincoln, had initiated a total of 153 separate recall campaigns, affecting nearly 13 million vehicles on the road. This figure is so substantial that it exceeds the combined total of recalls from the next nine automakers. In terms of frequency, Ford announced a new recall every 2.4 days on average. More strikingly, approximately 24 Ford vehicles were added to the recall list every minute.
Trailing Ford in this undesirable ranking are familiar names such as Toyota, with 15 recalls affecting 3.2 million vehicles, Stellantis, with 53 recalls for 2.7 million vehicles, and the Hyundai-Kia group, with over 2.6 million affected vehicles. Notably, Ford dominated the year’s three largest recall campaigns, primarily due to issues with rearview camera systems and software controls.
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While Ford attributes its high recall numbers to advanced data management systems and cutting-edge manufacturing methods, industry analysts raise serious concerns about the company’s design quality and production oversight. The increasing prevalence of software-related issues, as Ford accelerates its connected vehicle strategy, highlights new risks in the era of electronic automobiles. Although many recalls can now be resolved through over-the-air (OTA) software updates, Ford still leads the industry in the number of vehicles requiring in-person dealership repairs for hardware issues.
The surge in recalls during 2025 is not just a financial challenge but also a severe blow to brand reputation and consumer trust. Experts suggest this could mark a “peak” in recall trends for decades to come. For Ford, the greatest challenge is not only rectifying millions of faulty vehicles but also overhauling its testing processes to ensure 2025 remains a somber, unrepeated record.
Ford’s 2025: A Year to Forget with Unprecedented Million-Vehicle Recall Milestone
The global automotive industry concluded 2025 with a staggering milestone as vehicle recalls reached an all-time high, marking a seismic shift in the sector.
